The United States government has donated 25 laptop computers and 479 tablets to the Department of Education (DepEd) as part of the US commitment to support early grade learning in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
US Agency for International Development (USAID) Philippines Office of Education Director Dr. Thomas LeBlanc handed the school equipment over to DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan of the Office of the Secretary and Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio of the Office of Curriculum and Instruction during a ceremony at the DepEd main office on Sept. 6.
This assistance is part of USAID’s four-year, P250 million project called “All Children Reading” that supports DepEd in improving reading outcomes for early grade learners.
LeBlanc, in his remarks during the turnover rites, said that despite the pandemic situation, “we hope to promote learning among young children while at the same time support the innovative practices of teachers and schools in creating technology-aided learning experiences.”
The laptops and tablets are intended for distribution to select schools in Regions 5, 6, and to schools associated with the authors of the MTB-MLE interactive Primers developed using the Kotobee software purchased by USAID for DepEd last year.
The tablets will be loaded with eResources in an easy-to-use navigation system allowing for offline use.
USAID will test a model of teacher-directed continuous assessment supported by targeted resources for early reading improvement to be implemented in 2021 to 2022 school year.
DepEd Undersecretary Malaluan said the gesture is a product of the USAID-DepEd partnership on learning continuity and contains both substance and the building of the learning spaces of this time.
“In this situation there are many learning gains, and this is what we must be able to harness and build for the future, he said.
For his part, Undersecretary San Antonio said the project “will definitely spell the difference between mediocrity and excellence in delivering basic education services" even as he thanked the USAID for the support.